diff --git a/apps/emqx_dashboard/test/emqx_dashboard_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_dashboard/test/emqx_dashboard_SUITE.erl
index 783c00dad..0d446a7f2 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_dashboard/test/emqx_dashboard_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_dashboard/test/emqx_dashboard_SUITE.erl
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ all() ->
     emqx_common_test_helpers:all(?MODULE).
 
 init_per_suite(Config) ->
+    %% Load all applications to ensure swagger.json is fully generated.
+    Apps = emqx_machine_boot:reboot_apps(),
+    ct:pal("load apps:~p~n", [Apps]),
+    lists:foreach(fun(App) -> application:load(App) end, Apps),
     emqx_mgmt_api_test_util:init_suite([emqx_management]),
     Config.
 
diff --git a/apps/emqx_machine/src/emqx_machine_boot.erl b/apps/emqx_machine/src/emqx_machine_boot.erl
index f74db45ec..266855877 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_machine/src/emqx_machine_boot.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_machine/src/emqx_machine_boot.erl
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 -dialyzer({no_match, [basic_reboot_apps/0]}).
 
 -ifdef(TEST).
--export([sorted_reboot_apps/1]).
+-export([sorted_reboot_apps/1, reboot_apps/0]).
 -endif.
 
 %% these apps are always (re)started by emqx_machine
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ restart_type(App) ->
 
 %% the list of (re)started apps depends on release type/edition
 reboot_apps() ->
-    {ok, ConfigApps0} = application:get_env(emqx_machine, applications),
+    ConfigApps0 = application:get_env(emqx_machine, applications, []),
     BaseRebootApps = basic_reboot_apps(),
     ConfigApps = lists:filter(fun(App) -> not lists:member(App, BaseRebootApps) end, ConfigApps0),
     BaseRebootApps ++ ConfigApps.